Mostly Working, Always Traveling.

All posts tagged: korean beauty

It is a Wednesday & it feels like I am doing nothing for the first time in quite a while. I have had the free time, but there has been a lot physical & mental energy spent on settling down in the Western Hemisphere while my next visa is pending. It has been a long time, no skincare talk! My routine has been non-existent recently, I just haven’t felt like it. I have moved continents & unsure how long I intend to stay, part of rebuilding a self-care routine & settling into my current lifestyle has been revitalizing my skincare stash. Oil Cleanser: Generic Coconut Oil Value: $4.99 – 14oz / 414ml Repurchase I feel like this defines how uninspired I have felt with skincare lately. I have resorted to using standard coconut oil that can be found on an Aldi shelf. I always have coconut oil on hand to use as a hair mask, my skin is not acne-prone so I can use it to remove make-up without any clogged pores. I have not …

Etude House’s makeup line is internationally renowned, but their skincare products tend to get a bad reputation for their strong fragrances & lack luster ingredient lists. I have seen a lot of improvements in the last few Etude House skincare lines though, this sunscreen is definitely more than just cutesy packaging. Etude House was originally created in 1985 & acquired by Amore Pacific in 1990. Etude literally translates to “Study of Chopin”, which is a French culture scene of young women trying new things. However the most obvious attribute of Etude House is their princess theme, which is obvious by their cutesy packaging & their brand motto is everyone is born a princess. I could find little information on Etude House’s sustainability efforts, but their parent company has done a number of female empowerment campaigns over the last few years & incredibly active in sustainable cosmetic production. PURPOSE This is a physical sunscreen that offers UVA & UVB protection. It is strong enough for normal daily activities, but does not claim to be waterproof or sweat resistant. This product claims to …

I avoided ever using an emulsion, even years after I was a full-fledged skincare addict. I thought it was just a light moisturizer that you put on before a thicker moisturizer at night. It seemed a bit redundant to me, especially if you already use a good moisturizer in your night-time routine… But I was so wrong. I decided to try emulsions after two of my skincare-addicted friends swore by this step & now I could not imagine my skincare routine without it! While I am new to emulsions, I still feel like the Goodal Double Bright Emulsion was one of the best options I could have chosen. Goodal’s name is derived from English “Good + All” as the brand tries to develop products with “all good” ingredients. Their products are known for having fermented ingredients, restoring radiance & vitality to the skin. Goodal is owned by Club Clio, a company that was established in 1993 & known for their makeup products. Goodal is typically associated with the “natural cosmetics” trend & their products are known …

Has the “Hanbang” trend been missing from the collection of skincare novelties crowding your bathroom sink? If you have felt the need for a concoction of Korean medicinal herbs, AmorePacific has designed an entire product line with this in mind. The illi line contains a number of body care & lotions, I decided to try the cleansing oil because my body care routine is humorously non-existent. Amore Pacific is a South Korean cosmetic giant that subsidizes many other popular cosmetic brands. Their high-end price tag is justified by their cosmetic research partnerships with institutions such as Harvard University, constant technological development from ingredient cultivation at their exclusive farms until it reaches store shelves; and their botanical ingredients, most notably they popularized EGCG [Green Tea]. Amore Pacific is active in sustainability, including environment protection & ethical product development. They also have been a huge advocate of women’s rights & corporate social responsibility, winning them a collection of awards throughout Asia. Amore Pacific is proud of their track record & their website displays it, along with their Sustainability …

I am always testing new techniques or looking for alternatives in my skincare routine to cut down on my skin dryness. My longest standing skincare modification has been replacing a traditional cleanser in my AM routine with micellar water. My face definitely thanks me for having one less harsh wash with tap water per day. My long-standing micellar water favorite has been the cult classic, Bioderma; though I like to test new micellar waters on occasion! A’True [Short for A True Lady, A True Moment] is a South Korean brand with a niche market. They combine old-world French ingredients with modern Korean cosmetic formulation to produce skincare fit for European Royalty of the Renaissance. The brand has a contract with the oldest French black tea producer, an ingredient that serves as the base for their cosmetics instead of water. Another feature of A’True products that does not get mentioned as often are the natural ingredients, many accompanied with organic & sustainable certifications. While some of the ingredients may be European, the brand vision is definitely an Eastern …

I have not been the kindest to my skin in the last quarter century. I do not sleep as much as I should. I am a beach bum in summer, not to mention the countless hours I spend hiking & jogging under the scorching sun. I indulge in the occasional comfort foods. I drink. I stress. It is all part of life though, it is for all of us; so starting anti-aging early was important to me. It is always easier to take preventative measures than reverse damage later on. However, I have had some growing pains while trying to find an anti-aging skincare regimen that works for me. Many products have been too irritating or drying on my dehydrated, dry skin. As I searched for alternatives, peptides seemed like a great addition to exfoliants & acids. So what better to try than this new peptide-laden beauty on the market? Ciracle is a South Korean cosmetic brand that is the little sister of the popular Cosrx. The similarities to Cosrx are highlighted by the short …